Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken led by seven early in the first half but Armstrong Atlantic State University used a 13-0 run to take back the lead and then held off the Pacers (6-13, 2-7 PBC), 80-77, tonight on Homecoming at "The Courthouse" in Aiken, S.C. Lorenzo Lawrence led the Pirates (13-8, 5-5 PBC) with a game-high 24 points. Richard Blocker's career-best 19 points paced USCA.

Curt Triplin's jumper gave USC Aiken a seven-point advantage, 43-36, with 17:44 to go in the first half but AASU answered by scoring 13 unanswered points. Lawrence, Clennon Preyear and Alex Carter each knocked down three-pointers during the run. Carter's trey made it 49-43 in favor of the visitors with 14:06 remaining.

The Pacers slowly chipped away. Two free throws and a basket by Triplin tied the score, 58-58, with 8:07 showing on the clock. Two Carter free throws put the Pirates back in front by six, 70-64, inside of five minutes to play but Blocker's three-pointer knotted it up again, 73-73, with 2:03 to go.

After Carter answered Blocker's triple with one of his own, Arnold Coates bucketed a jumper and Triplin connected on two free throws to give the lead to the Pacers, 76-77, with only 33 seconds to play. Lawrence made two free throws of his own on the other end to put Armstrong Atlantic back in front. 

USC Aiken held for the last shot, but turned the ball over with six ticks remaining and Lawrence made two more from the charity stripe to set the final score.

The Pirates shot 56 percent (14-of-25) in the second half and 49.2 percent (29-of-59) for the game. The Pacers hit on 50 percent in the first half and 41.9 percent (13-of-31) in the second stanza. AASU out-rebounded USC Aiken 39-30.

USCA used an 11-0 run early in the first half to turn a 4-4 game into a 13-4 lead with 15:17 to go before intermission. Armstrong Atlantic ran off the next eight points to draw within one, 13-12 with 13:41 to go.

Another Pacer run, 10-4, including six from Blocker, allowed USC Aiken to move out in front by 10, 34-24. The Pirates cut it to four, 38-34, at the half.

AASU's Bryan Taylor hit on 11-of-16 from the field for 23 points. Travis Wallace scored 12 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Four players reached double figures for USCA. Josh Geyer finished with 18, Coates added 14 and Triplin scored 12.

The Pacers will be back in action on Monday when they play host to the defending NCAA Division II National Champions and currently 12th ranked Kennesaw State University Owls. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

SCORING:
Armstrong Atlantic State (80): Lorenzo Lawrence 24, Bryan Taylor 23, Alex Carter 14, Travis Wallace 12, Clennon Preyear 5, Kenny Brown 2, Jamal Galloway 0, Sean Alarcon 0 

USC Aiken (77): Richard Blocker 19, Josh Geyer 18, Arnold Coates 14, Curt Triplin 12, Marcus Robinson 8, Josh Poston 6, Trent Boyd 0, Anthony Sampson 0, Theo Oates 0, Kenny Burr 0, Franchot Brown 0, Richard Glover 0